NASCAR at Talladega 2018 Results: Joey Logano Wins Geico 500, Kurt Busch 2nd

Joey Logano did more than just survive at Talladega Superspeedway. He dominated.

The No. 22 car led 70 of the race's 188 laps, as Logano locked himself into a spot in the NASCAR playoffs with a win in Sunday's Geico 500. Logano finished the race less than two-tenths of a second ahead of second-place Kurt Busch, who may have won the race if it were a lap or two longer.

Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top five.

Logano had not won a race on NASCAR's top circuit since last April in Richmond, Virginia. This is his third win at Talladega.

"I felt like I needed to do something different. I needed a run from behind," Busch said, per Mike Hembree of USA Today. "The 17 (Stenhouse), once he broke up Kevin (Harvick) and I, my plan was to roll with Kevin until the last lap then slingshot by him on the last lap.

"The 17, percentages say he's going to be the strongest guy here at the end, he was there, I just needed him closer to my rear bumper to get that drive, to get that run. ... I got outfoxed, didn't quite make the right move, and it's a shame. It was one of the best Fords I've ever had."

Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top five.

Logano had not won a race on NASCAR's top circuit since last April in Richmond, Virginia. This is his third win at Talladega.

"What a fast Ford teamwork that did it today. Not only with the Team Penske Fords, but all of the Fords out there," Logano said.

"Man, it feels so good to be back in Victory Lane. There's no feeling like this. It's been quite the weekend and a long time coming. I don't have to worry about the playoffs anymore—we're in!"

Logano now sits third in the points standings behind Kyle Busch and Harvick. He has the second-most total points on the season, but Harvick's three victories has him in the second spot.

The race ended with 14 cars in the garage, 11 of which bowed out of the race because of an accident. Many of them were taken out in a late-race crash started when Jimmie Johnson lost control of his car with 23 laps remaining.

Johnson survived the crash to finish 12th, but the wreck took out Clint Bowyer and Brad Keselowski, among others.